Body dryer

• US 4,780,595 A
• Filed: 08/28/1987
• Issued: 10/25/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard F. Alban
• Original Assignee: Richard F. Alban
• Inventors: Alban, Richard F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Albritton, C. L.
• Application Number:
  US07/090,455
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 219/363, 219/364, 219/369, 219/370, 219/366, 219/367, 219/368
• US Class Current: 392/381
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 20/16 Fixed installed drying devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/48 Drying by means of hot air hair-drying devices A45D20/00; curative hot-air baths A61H33/06; electric heating elements H05B
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 3/0405 using electric energy supply, e.g. the heating medium being a resistive element; Heating by direct contact, i.e. with resistive elements, electrodes and fins being bonded together without additional element in-between F24H3/06, F24H3/08, F24H3/10 take precedence

Abstract

A body drying apparatus having a substantially vertical enclosure with at least one air inlet vent at one end, at least one air outlet opening along one side with vents to direct air flow or to prevent air flow through a certain section of the enclosure, a heater, a device for blowing air, and a nozzle for drying hair that does not need to be held by an operator. The portable version contains a tip switch. Two operating switches enable an operator to select one of several flow rate and temperature combinations of air. The enclosure has a shape enabling the apparatus to provide uniform air flow through the air outlet opening or openings.

Claims

1. Apparatus for drying substantially the full length of a human subject comprising:

a base;

an elongated enclosure held by said base in a vertical position when said base is resting on a floor, said enclosure extending substantially the full length of said human subject and having at least one inlet vent and at least one outlet opening extending along a substantial portion of the length of said enclosure to enable drying of the full length of said human subject with air emitted from said outlet opening;

means, disposed in said enclosure, for blowing air from said at least one inlet vent out said at least one outlet opening;

means, disposed in said enclosure, for heating air passing from said at least one inlet vent to said at least one outlet opening; and

a nozzle rotatably mounted on an end of said enclosure opposite said base so as to be directable at the head of said human subject, said nozzle including means for allowing air flow through said nozzle when said nozzle is directed toward said human subject and preventing air flow through said nozzle when said nozzle is directed away from said human subject, said blowing means blowing air from said outlet opening independent of the positioning of said nozzle.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means for manually deactuating said heating means and said blowing means, and means for automatically deactuating said heating means and said blowing means a predetermined time after actuation.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising preheat means for preventing said blowing means from being energized until after said heating means has been energized, so that said blowing means does not cause cold air to be blown from said outlet opening.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said blowing means comprises a two-speed fan and said heating means comprises a dual wattage heater.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising control means, coupled to said heating means and said blowing means, for selectively providing any of the following three combinations of heat and air flow output:

(1) high heat and high air flow;

(2) low heat and low air flow; and

(3) unheated, high air flow.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising means for automatically deactuating said heating means and said blowing means a predetermined time after actuation.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising preheat means for preventing said blowing means from being energized until after said heating means has been energized so that said blowing means does not cause cold air to be blown from said outlet opening.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising adjustable vent units, mounted in said at least one outlet opening, for directing air flow at desired angles and for selectively preventing said air flow through sections of said at least one outlet opening.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said at least one inlet vent is positioned proximate a lower end of said enclosure.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said blowing means is positioned proximate said at least one inlet vent.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said heating means is positioned proximate said at least one inlet vent.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said enclosure tapers generally inward from a lower end to an opposite end and said outlet opening extends along said taper.

13. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus is portable, and said base is adapted to be movably positioned on a surface.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising means for turning off and preventing energization of said heating means and said blowing means when said enclosure is not stably and vertically positioned on a surface.

15. A portable apparatus for drying substantially the full length of a human subject comprising:

a portable base adapted to be movably positioned on a floor;

an elongated enclosure held by said base in a vertical position when said base is resting on a floor, said enclosure extending substantially the full length of said human subject and having at least one inlet vent proximate a lower end of said enclosure and at least one outlet opening extending along a substantial portion of the length of said enclosure to enable drying of the full length of said human subject with air emitted from said outlet opening;

means, disposed in said enclosure proximate said at least one inlet vent, for blowing air from said inlet vent out said at least one outlet opening; and

means, disposed in said enclosure proximate said at least one inlet vent, for heating air passing from said at least one inlet vent to said at least one outlet opening.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 further comprising manually deactuating said heating means and said blowing means, and means for automatically deactuating said heating means and said blowing means a predetermined time after actuation.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16 further comprising preheat means for preventing said blowing means from being energized until after said heating means has been energized, so that said blowing means does not cause cold air to be blown from said outlet opening.

18. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said blowing means comprises a two-speed fan and said heating means comprises a dual wattage heater.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18 further comprising control means, coupled to said heating means and said blowing means, for selectively providing the following three combinations of heat and air flow output:

(1) high heat and high air flow;

(2) low heat and low air flow; and

(3) unheated, high air flow.

20. Apparatus according to claim 19 further comprising means for automatically deactuating said heating means and said blowing means a predetermined time after actuation.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20 further comprising preheat means for preventing said blowing means from being energized until after said heating means has been energized, so that said blowing means does not cause cold air to be blown from said outlet opening.

22. Apparatus according to claim 15 further comprising adjustable vent units, mounted in said at least one outlet opening, for directing air flow at desired angles and for selectively preventing said air flow through sections of said at least one outlet opening.

23. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said enclosure tapers generally inward from a lower end to an opposite end.

24. Apparatus according to claim 23 further comprising means for turning off and preventing energization of said heating means and said blowing means when said enclosure is not stably and vertically positioned on a surface.

25. Apparatus according to claim 15 further comprising a nozzle rotatably mounted on an end of said enclosure opposite said base so as to be directable at the head of said human subject, said nozzle including means for allowing air flow through said nozzle when said nozzle is directed toward said human subject and preventing air flow through said nozzle when said nozzle is directed away from said human subject, said blowing means blowing air from said outlet opening independent of the position of said nozzle.

26. Apparatus for drying substantially the full length if a human subject comprising:

a base;

an elongated enclosure held by said base in a vertical position when said base is resting on a floor, said enclosure extending substantially the full length of said human subject and having at least one inlet vent and at least one outlet opening extending along a substantial portion of the length of said enclosure to enable drying of the full length of said human subject with air emitted from said outlet opening;

means, disposed in said enclosure, for blowing air from said at least one inlet vent out said at least one outlet opening;

means, disposed in said enclosure, for heating air passing from said at least one inlet vent to said at least one outlet opening; and

preheat means for preventing said blowing means from being energized until said heating means has been energized, so that said blowing means does not cause cold air to be blow from said outlet opening.

27. Apparatus according to claim 26 further comprising means for manually deactuating said heating means and said blowing means, and means for automatically deactuating said heating means and said blowing means a predetermined time after actuation.

28. Apparatus according to claim 26 wherein said blowing means comprises a two-speed fan and said heating means comprises a dual wattage heater.

29. Apparatus according to claim 28 further comprising control means, coupled to said heating means and said blowing means, for selectively providing the following three combinations of heat and air flow output:

(1) high heat and high air flow;

(2) low heat and low air flow; and

(3) unheated, high air flow.

30. Apparatus according to claim 29 further comprising means for automatically deactuating said heating means and said blowing means a predetermined time after actuation.

31. Apparatus according to claim 26 further comprising adjustable vent units, mounted in said at least one outlet opening, for directing air flow at desired angles and for selectively preventing said air flow through sections of said at least one outlet opening.

32. Apparatus according to claim 26 wherein said at least one inlet vent is positioned proximate a lower end of said enclosure.

33. Apparatus according to claim 32 wherein said blowing means is positioned proximate said at least one inlet vent.

34. Apparatus according to claim 33 wherein said heating means is positioned proximate said at least one inlet vent.

35. Apparatus according to claim 26 wherein said enclosure tapers generally inward from a lower end to an opposite end.

36. Apparatus according to claim 26. wherein said apparatus is portable, said base being adapted to be movably positioned on a surface.

37. Apparatus according to claim 36 further comprising means for turning off and preventing energization of said heating means and said blowing means when said enclosure is not stably and vertically positioned on a surface.